If you want to tempt finance professionals into accepting a new job offer, make sure their package includes a free car park space.

Free parking came second only to 25 days holiday in a list of top benefits for finance staff in a survey of 400 accountancy firms carried out by Reed Human Resources.

Of those polled, 60% valued holidays most, with free parking at 58%. Some car parking fees can be higher than employees’ annual taxable bonuses.

Other top staff benefits were sick pay, contributory pension and BUPA healthcare insurance. Further down the list came gym membership and flexible hours. However, 42% of organisations reported maternity leave as the most valued benefit to manage employees’ work/life balance.

The survey also found that the best way of retaining financial staff was to carry out regular appraisals and pay reviews. Over 70% felt this was the best way of handling retention issues, followed by in-house training at 62%.